HOW COME, HOW LONG
(written by Babyface / Stevie Wonder - 1997) 


There was a girl I used to know 
She was oh so beautiful 
But she's not here anymore 
She had a college degree 
Smart as anyone could be 
She had so much to live for 
But she fell in love 
With the wrong kinda man 
He abused her love and treated her so bad 
There was not enough education in her world 
That could save the life of this little girl 

How come, how long 
It's not right, it's so wrong 
Do we let it just go on 
Turn our backs and carry on 
Wake up, for it's too late 
Right now, we can't wait 
She won't have a second try 
Open up your hearts 
As well as your eyes 

She tried to give a cry for help 
She even blamed things on herself 
But no one came to her aid 
Nothing was wrong as far as we could tell 
That's what we'd like to tell ourselves 
But no, it wasn't that way 
So she fell in love 
With the wrong kinda man 
And she paid with her life 
For loving that man 
So we cannot ignore 
We must look for the signs 
And maybe next time 
We might save somebody's life 

HOOK 

I on occasion met that guy 
He stirred up bad feelings deep inside 
Something about him wasn't right 
The way he proves himself a man 
By beatin' his woman with his hands 
Oh I wish she'd seen the light 
How can someone like that 
Call himself a man 
In reality he's far more less than that 
And we cannot ignore 
Whenever we see the signs 
'Cause any kinda of abuse 
God knows isn't right 

HOOK